A
season opener invariably generates a different kind of nerves for athletes.
Especially the ones stepping into the spotlight after an injury that could've
been life-altering, let alone career-ending.

But
LSU sophomore Chris Sciambra said he barely thought about the broken neck
injury that cost him two-thirds of the 2012 campaign and required extensive
recovery and rehab.

It
may be that Sciambra didn't have time to fret about nerves because he was too
busy producing the best game of his young career. Back
in center field and hitting leadoff, Sciambra was 4-for-4 and scored the game's
only run in a 1-0 LSU victory against Maryland at Alex Box Stadium.

One
of Sciambra's teammates and one who has known him longer than most said Friday's
opening act was what he has grown to expect.

"It
was really only a matter of time before he came back his injury and played that
way," said Tigers pitcher Aaron Nola, a teammate at Catholic High before the
two got to LSU last season. "He worked pretty hard to get back to where he was
at after the injury and I think he's exceeded that."

Last-minute shuffle

Junior
Kurt McCune is likely out for the weekend after encountering back spasms on
Friday, Mainieri said in the postgame media session.

That
probably means senior left-hander Chris Cotton will not start the series finale
and will be on call to close the final two games if needed.

Kurt McCuneLSUSports.net

Mainieri
installed Cotton into a hybrid role earlier in the week, saying he could close
on in a series opener - which he did against the Terps by getting the final
four outs on 17 pitches - and then come back and start the series finale.

Now
it's most likely that Brent Bonvillain, also a senior lefty, will get the
starting nod instead.

In
Cotton's debut as the designated closer, he was impressive as Maryland never
got a solid swing against him. The Terps did manage to produce a pair of
infield singles in the 9th, but Cotton wasn't fazed and coaxed
Michael Montville into a routine roller to shortstop to end the game.

"I
threw a fair amount of changeups and able to get them out front," Cotton said.

"After
seeing Nola and Joey (Bourgeois) come at them with about 90 mph, then I come in
with my little 75 mph changeup and I was able to get them out front."

Short-hopped

As
strong a night as Aaron Nola had, his brother wasn't as fortunate.

Former
Tigers' star Austin Nola threw out one of two ceremonial first pitches to
former infield mate Tyler Hanover. The strong-armed former LSU shortstop didn't
quite reach the plate with his offering, forcing Hanover to come up with a nice
scoop.

Austin NolaLSUSports.net

"He
whispered to me in the dugout that he might spike it," Sciambra said. "He was a
little nervous He'd never been on the mound before so he was kind of out of his
element."

Added
younger brother, "I'm going to have to get on him about that."

Another
former LSU star had more luck with his ceremonial first pitcher. Brett Laxton
zipped a strike down and away.

Around the horn

Friday's
win was the Tigers' first by a 1-0 score since they edged Tulane by that count
on March 8, 1995. It was also LSU's first season-opening shutout since 2000
when it rolled past Virginia 8-0 and the first time the Tigers have ever
started the season with a 1-0 win. They did lose a 1-0 game to Kansas State in
1967.

At
the opposite end of Sciambra's solid season opener was first baseman Mason
Katz. He fanned three times and rolled into a 6-4-3 double play in the first
game of his final season. Katz struck out three times in a game only three
times all last season.

It
was a much quieter perfect night at the plate for JaCoby Jones, but perhaps
just as promising. Jones drew two walks and sandwiched a single in between. The
sometimes erratic but ultra-talented junior walked twice in a game only twice
in 2012 and reached on a free pass only 15 times total in 62 games.

The
ticket-sold attendance number Friday was 12,373, which is a program record. The
actual crowd was 9,746.

Katz
and Ty Ross handled their share of the defensive load, each registering 10 of
the Tigers' 27 putouts. Maryland recorded only five fly-ball outs - two to Raph
Rhymes in left, two to Sciambra in center and one to Jones at second base.